PCB granted NOCs for IPL III: Razzaq

The Pakistan Cricket Board has granted NOCs to its players to take part in the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), senior Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq said.

Razzaq claimed that the board had issued NOCs to players to take part in the IPL a few days ago and indicated he would be soon signing up for the Kolkata Knight Riders team.

"Yes the PCB has given us NOCs for the IPL and hopefully this time we will be able to take part in the league in India," Razzaq said.

When asked whether the government had also cleared the players to play in India, Razzaq said since the PCB has given clearance there should not be a problem with the government allowing them to play in the IPL.

The IPL has set a deadline of November 20 for Pakistani players to send in their NOCs from the PCB and government clearance so that they can be considered for the players auction that would be held soon for the next IPL season.

Razzaq said he was in talks with the KKR team to represent them in the next IPL season but said once the deal was final the KKR team would make an official announcement themselves.

"But yes I am interested in playing for them next season," Razzaq, who recently resigned from the rebel Indian Cricket League, said.

Razzaq was among the first batch of players from Pakistan who signed up for the ICL and played in both seasons of the unofficial T20 league with distinction.

The Pakistani sports minister, Aftab Shah Jillani also recently said that he didn't see any problems in allowing Pakistani players to take part in the IPL next year as conditions between Pakistan and India were steadily improving.

The Pakistani government had this year advised the PCB not to allow its players to go and play in IPL II in India because of the tense relations between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks.

The IPL was later shifted to South Africa because of elections but by that time the franchises had either suspended or terminated contracts of Pakistani players.